Exploring the regulatory role of small RNAs in modulating host-pathogen interactions: implications for bacterial and viral infections.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and transfer RNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (tiRNAs) have emerged as crucial players in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in various cellular processes, including immunity and host defense against infections. In recent years, increasing evidence has highlighted their complex role in influencing the host response during viral and bacterial infections. miRNAs have been shown to play multiple roles in host-pathogen interaction like TLR activation and altered disease virulence during bacterial infections.

CAGI6 ID panel challenge: assessment of phenotype and variant predictions in 415 children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).

The Genetics of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Lab in Padua provided a new intellectual disability (ID) Panel challenge for computational methods to predict patient phenotypes and their causal variants in the context of the Critical Assessment of the Genome Interpretation, 6th edition (CAGI6). Eight research teams submitted a total of 30 models to predict phenotypes based on the sequences of 74 genes (VCF format) in 415 pediatric patients affected by Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs). NDDs are clinically and genetically heterogeneous conditions, with onset in infant age.

Systemically circulating 17β-estradiol enhances the neuroprotective effect of the smoking cessation drug cytisine in female parkinsonian mice.

The smoking cessation drug cytisine exerts neuroprotection in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopaminergic (DA) neurons of female but not male 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned parkinsonian mice. To address the important question of whether circulating 17β-estradiol mediates this effect, we employ two mouse models aimed at depleting systemically circulating 17β-estradiol: (i) bilateral ovariectomy (OVX), and (ii) aromatase inhibition with systemically administered letrozole. In both models, depleting systemically circulating 17β-estradiol in female 6-OHDA lesioned parkinsonian mice results in the loss of cytisine-mediated neuroprotection as measured using apomorphine-induced contralateral rotations and SNc DA neurodegeneration.

Symbolic dynamics of joint brain states during dyadic coordination.

We propose a novel approach to investigate the brain mechanisms that support coordination of behavior between individuals. Brain states in single individuals defined by the patterns of functional connectivity between brain regions are used to create joint symbolic representations of brain states in two or more individuals to investigate symbolic dynamics that are related to interactive behaviors. We apply this approach to electroencephalographic data from pairs of subjects engaged in two different modes of finger-tapping coordination tasks (synchronization and syncopation) under different interaction conditions (uncoupled, leader-follower, and mutual) to explore the neural mechanisms of multi-person motor coordination.

TXSELECT: a web-based decision support system for regional assessment of potential loads using a spatially explicit approach.

Bacterial source characterization and allocation are imperative to watershed planning and identifying best management practices. The Spatially Explicit Load Enrichment Calculation Tool (SELECT) has been extensively utilized in watershed protection plans to evaluate the potential bacteria loads and sources in impaired watersheds. However, collecting data, compiling inputs, and spatially mapping sources can be arduous, time-intensive, expensive, and iterative until potential bacteria loads are appropriately allocated to sources based on stakeholder recommendations.